Honkey needs an ASBO when it comes to her behaviour and attitude towards anyone else but her owner. Matt, Julie’s boyfriend is seen as enemy number one and Honkey squawks, plucks her feathers and even bites when he gets near. At the clinic Marc is not surprised by this kind of behaviour or the fact that Honkey controls the household and diagnoses classic destructive behaviour and the fact that Honkey is even jealous of Matt as she sees Julie as a mate!
After diagnosing Honkey in the Pet Shame Clinic, Marc visits Julie’s home to start a programme of clicker training that will not only encourage bonding with Matt but also stimulate this intelligent bird. Matt tries and tries but it seems that Honkey just doesn’t want to get involved with him, even refusing her favourite treat.
When Julie comes back to the clinic with Honkey she brings Matt with her too. Once again Matt patiently tries the clicker exercise, will Honkey thaw towards him and finally take the treat and more importantly how far will her jealous behaviour be pushed to the limit when Jo Page asks the couple to kiss!
Alan Jones – Vet, avian specialist and vice president of the Parrot Society UK, says: “This is a classic possessive, jealous, hormonal cockatoo situation! It arises in usually humanised, hand-reared birds, that have no fear of humans, and become confused when they reach sexual maturity. Clicker training and other behavioral modifications are required for the owners, aided in the short-term perhaps with hormone therapy for the bird to suppress her urges while the training regime takes effect.” For more information click www.parrotsocietyuk.org
